============================================================== To reach ALL SJD members, please send to sjd@satjadham.net ... Do NOT include any other addresses when sending to the list... Include as LITTLE of the original messages as possible........ Message sent by: LanXang Siengkhene *** Announcement: *** Please register for SatJaDham Fifth Annual conference at the website http://www.satjadham.org/sjd5sd/ ============================================================== At Thakek, I had the pleasure to have a French boy as my friend. I don't remember exactly what his dad was doing there, maybe a professor at the College Thakek or a doctor at the hospital. As I know, there were some French people working over those two institutions. Whatever his dad was, he was a good friend of mine. We always played Badminton together. Close to house, across the bridge, there was a Badminton club. They always had the net on until late the day. Usually, we kids could use the court and play right before the sun went down. Unfortunately, the court didn't have the light on. That meant if you wanted to play on, you had to hit Mak Pik Kai in the dark. You might guess that my French friend was bigger than me. On the contrary, he was quite short. Still, he outplayed me with the game of Badminton. Worse, he outran in the 100 meter dash. For Badminton, it was okay for him to beat me for I rarely played this game but for the 100 meter dash I couldn't bear the shame of defeat. You know what? I practiced running days and nights along the road by the Mekong River. Then, one day, I beat him soundly and fairly. Funny that once he was defeated, he hardly went on the 100 meter dash with me any more. Too bad that his dad didn't stay with the job at Thakek very long otherwise my French would be greatly improved (this friend of mine hardly spoke Lao at all). Besides, while he stayed at Thakek, he always took me to see the French speaking movie at a French cultural center near Wat Nabo. (to be continued) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com _ ***************************************************************** Visit SatJaDham Homepage at: http://www.satjadham.org (or .net) *****************************************************************